Sergio Perez wins Azerbaijan GP after Max Verstappen crashes from lead

Max Verstappen was cruising towards a simple second consecutive victory till an sudden tire failure turned the Azerbaijan Grand Prix right into a two-lap shootout, a shock victory for teammate Sergio Perez and one of many extra memorable races in latest reminiscence.
The end Sunday simply may need been an unintentional preview of adjustments Formula One plans to experiment with later this season in an effort so as to add pleasure to the on-track product.
“As long as we keep it consistent, going forward, it certainly helps the fans to be sticking to the TV,” winner Perez mentioned. “I think they have the most enjoyable two laps of the race, you know?”

Sweet victory for Checo! 🏆#AzerbaijanGP 🇦🇿 #F1 pic.twitter.com/SGAIcdO1HF
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 6, 2021
The uncommon sequence started when championship chief Verstappen crashed out of the lead with 4 laps remaining, halting what gave the impression to be a certain march to his third win of the season. F1 threw a pink flag, allowed groups to vary tires throughout a prolonged delay, then unconventionally restarted the race.
From a standing begin.
For two laps.
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton tried to go Perez for the win however by chance flicked a change that “principally switches the brakes off and I simply went straight“ via flip one and astray. Verstappen and Hamilton each completed exterior the highest 10, the primary time since 2016 that the highest two within the championship standings failed to attain a degree.
That made for an unfamiliar podium as Perez, Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly all completed within the high three for the primary time this 12 months.
Verstappen had no warning his tire was about to fail as he slammed into the wall. The Dutchman climbed from his automotive, inspected the tire and kicked it in anger earlier than stomping off in disgust over the race-changing failure.

Heartbreak for Max 💔#AzerbaijanGP 🇦🇿 #F1 pic.twitter.com/sPEqCFdlwP
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 6, 2021
“Sometimes you possibly can hate this sport,“ Verstappen mentioned.
A tire failure had ended Lance Stroll’s race earlier and Red Bull, insistent that Pirelli had a security concern, requested F1 that groups be allowed to vary tires earlier than the restart.
F1 had beforehand introduced it will experiment with half-hour dash races in locations of qualifying later this season after which the Baku ending turned a preview of a good shorter, extra explosive format.
Liberty Media, an American firm, is in its fifth season operating F1 after shopping for the industrial rights in 2017. The U.S. possession has introduced a deal with a youthful viewers on social media and in a cope with Netflix on the favored “Drive to Survive” behind-the-scenes docuseries.
“The Americans took over, so I wasn’t really surprised that we go first with the entertainment,” Gasly mentioned. “I used to be fairly glad. It all the time brings a bit extra pleasure. It creates some kind of adrenaline inside you and I knew there can be some alternatives since you begin just for two laps.
“Everybody is a bit like lions out of the cage and everybody goes for everything and try to make as many positions as they can in a very short time. It was very intense. I really enjoyed it. If anything, hopefully in the future they’ll do the same.”
Vettel cautioned in opposition to F1 adopting too many gimmicks shifting ahead as the main focus turns towards “creating a show.”
“I hope that in the future the races are more exciting,” he mentioned. “But I think we just need to watch out that it doesn’t become too artificial and we don’t lose the roots of the sport.”
Perez was the chief on the restart however Hamilton shot previous him in his try and win the race and reclaim the factors lead from Verstappen, who took excessive for the primary time in his profession along with his win at Monaco final spherical. But when Hamilton by chance turned his brakes off and slid via the primary nook, he snapped a streak of 54 consecutive races of incomes a factors place end.
Four-time champion Vettel took second, his highest end since 2019, to present Aston Martin its first ever F1 podium. Gasly was third for AlphaTauri.
It was the second profession win for first-year Red Bull driver Perez. It considerably salvaged the race for the workforce that had been headed towards a 1-2 end earlier than Verstappen’s tire failed. Verstappen continues to be up by 4 factors over Hamilton, whereas Hamilton moved from fifth to 3rd within the standings.
“I am very sorry for Max because he had a tremendous race,“ Perez said. “We were going to have a 1-2 together, but in the end it was still a fantastic day for us and luckily we were still able to finish the race.”
Perez’s second win ties him with Pedro Rodriguez for probably the most in F1 by a Mexican driver. It took 9 years from his 2011 debut for his first win and Perez now has two victories in six months.
Charles Leclerc began on the pole for Ferrari however couldn’t replicate his qualifying tempo and completed fourth. Lando Norris took fifth for McLaren, Fernando Alonso was sixth for Alpine and Gasly’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda took a career-best seventh.
Carlos Sainz was eighth for Ferrari and Daniel Ricciardo was ninth to present McLaren a double factors day. Kimi Raikkonen’s tenth place for Alfa Romeo was his first factors end this season.
Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas was by no means in competition after qualifying tenth and completed twelfth after being overtaken by each of the Alfa Romeo vehicles. Mercedes failed to attain a degree for the primary time since 2018.